Can I mud a small repair without tape

I have an area on the ceiling of the garage where something I stored in attic moved the drywall joint and popped the tape. I have installed a backup board to secure the joint. When I removed the bad tape, the old mud and paint to the exact width of the tape came off. Now I either need to mud without tape or scrape, sand or file a wider area in order to install new tape.
Any thoughts would be appreciated

Can I mud a small repair without tape

I have an area on the ceiling of the garage where something I stored in attic moved the drywall joint and popped the tape. I have installed a backup board to secure the joint.

Hugh? You need to subfloor that attic if you plan to store heavy stuff. Drywall is not meant to be a load bearing material. And remember it is hanging my screws and nails to the bottom side of the ceiling. No wonder you popped a tape joint if you stored something heavy on only the drywall from above.

You need some plywood or other planking in the space above. Then, without seeing your situation, I would plan on doing a cutout of dryall, screwing it in place, taping and mudding. Prime and paint.